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Showing posts from May, 2020

How to Protest Safely in the Age of Surveillance

Law enforcement has more tools than ever to track your movements and access your communications. Here's how to protect your privacy if you plan to protest. https://bit.ly/2zLD2IM

The Women of Ukraine's Railroads Keep the Trains Running

The under-sung heroes of the country's rail system keep vigilant watch from colorful mini-castles. https://bit.ly/3dntlyM

SpaceX Launched Two Astronauts—Changing Spaceflight Forever

The test mission will clear the way for regular crewed launches from the United States for the first time in nearly a decade. https://bit.ly/3gCEFZU

Space Photos of the Week: An Eternal Voyage of Discovery

As we sunset this weekly series, we take a farewell tour of the outer planets—and pay tribute to one of the most famous last looks at Earth. https://bit.ly/303nivN

Trump's Tweets Force Twitter Into a High-Wire Act

By hiding but not deleting the president's tweets, the platform has struck a difficult balance to approach a nearly impossible situation. https://bit.ly/2Mase9V

George Floyd and the Illusion of Progress

One image from the Minneapolis protests is snapshot of an America that has not changed all the much. https://bit.ly/2XLQiFz

Philips Soup Maker Review: Perfect for Folks Who Hate to Cook

This dedicated device renders an already simple kitchen chore—crafting hot soups—even simpler. https://bit.ly/2XVFk0j

Some Nursing Homes Escaped Covid-19—Here's What They Did Right

As states start to reopen, senior care facilities must balance the needs of residents against the potential for more deadly Covid-19 outbreaks. https://bit.ly/3de4de1

Trump’s Social Media Executive Order Is Purely for Show

The president has targeted Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms, but has little actual power over how they operate. https://bit.ly/2ZMRSt6

NSA: Russia's Sandworm Hackers Have Hijacked Mail Servers

In a rare public warning, the US spy agency says the notorious arm of Russian military intelligence is targeting a known vulnerability in Exim. https://bit.ly/2M8DH9K

Whoooaaa Duuuuude: Why We Stretch Words in Tweets and Texts

Notice you've been elongating your words lately? You're actually loading them with a whooooole lot of meaning. https://bit.ly/36JryBJ

Google Chrome Is Getting a Bunch of New Privacy Features

The next version of the browser will be more secure than ever. Here’s what you need to know. https://bit.ly/36yh8ES

Instagram Will (Finally) Pay Influencers

The company is rolling out new ways for its creators to make money—and they might sound familiar. https://bit.ly/2ZJfGhM

3 Ways Scientists Think We Could De-Germ a Covid-19 World

Researchers want to know if we can create an antiviral infrastructure that would protect humans from transmission. Here are a few ideas. https://bit.ly/2X6ScS3

High in the Alps, Giant Blankets Slow a Glacier's Ice Melt

Despite preservationists' best efforts, the Rhône Glacier may not have long. https://bit.ly/3egetlO

Virgin Orbit’s Air-Launched Rocket Failed Its First Test

LauncherOne failed a few seconds into its first flight. But that’s OK—the only two US rocket startups that made it to orbit failed their first attempts, too. https://bit.ly/3elLNba

How to Watch SpaceX Launch Astronauts to the ISS

The occasion will mark the first time a private company blasts NASA astronauts into space. Here's everything you need to know. https://bit.ly/36CXlEw

4 Best Cocktail Subscription Kits: 4 Top Kits Reviewed (2020)

If you're craving a craft cocktail, these services deliver all the necessary components to your door. We reviewed Shaker & Spoon, SaloonBox, EastBevCo, and Sourced Craft Cocktails. https://bit.ly/3d2jsGO

Meet This Museum's All-Star Arachnids and Insects

Camel spiders and giant hornets and shimmering butterflies, oh my. An arachnologist gives a behind-the-scenes tour at the California Academy of Sciences. https://bit.ly/2B0d58O

The DHS Prepares for Attacks Fueled by 5G Conspiracy Theories

The claim that 5G can spread the coronavirus has led to dozens of cell-tower burnings in Europe. Now, the US telecom industry is on alert as well. https://bit.ly/36pZ2F4

Inside the NSA’s Secret Tool for Mapping Your Social Network

Edward Snowden revealed the agency’s phone-record tracking program. But thanks to “precomputed contact chaining,” that database was much more powerful than anyone knew. https://bit.ly/3gglRj3

There's a Jailbreak Out for the Current Version of iOS

The Unc0ver tool works on all versions of iOS from 11 to 13.5, the current release. https://bit.ly/3d0CnSa

Space Photos of the Week: Keeping an Eye on Jupiter's Storms

NASA's Juno orbiter, along with its Hubble and Gemini telescopes, will help scientists better understand the planet's atmosphere. https://bit.ly/36oaTDA

WIRED's Bread Making Tips & Supplies Guide: Yeast, Baking Accessories, and More

Save some dough by baking your own. Here are our favorite tips, tools, and recipes to help your bread rise above. https://bit.ly/3cVLjIw

What’s Up With the Funny-Looking Moons in ‘Onward’?

Yes, I know this is a fantasy movie. That shouldn’t stop us from thinking about the real causes of lunar phases. https://bit.ly/3cZ2n0a

Pretty Litter Review: Keeping Tabs on Your Cat's Health

This crystal litter subscription service claims to detect illnesses in your cat. But it's not a replacement for vets. https://bit.ly/2LOERHh

On the Moon, Astronaut Pee Will Be a Hot Commodity

Urine can be used for landing pads, gardens, and drinking water. But will there be enough to go around? https://bit.ly/3edpG70

Joe Biden Answers Your Most Searched Questions About Him

The Democratic presidential candidate responds to the internet's most searched questions, including his stances on immigration, education, and gun control. https://bit.ly/3c10oaI

The Politics of Counting Things Is About to Explode

With contested vote tallies, concerns over Census data, and now the Covid-19 death toll, 2020 marks the ugly climax of a long dispute. https://bit.ly/2Xk6oFY

Polio Is Nearly Wiped Out. Covid-19 Could Halt That Progress

The disease once paralyzed 350,000 children each year; vaccination campaigns brought it down to just a few hundred cases. Then, the pandemic struck. https://bit.ly/2ZpW7L2

Covid-19 Is Causing a Spike in Sales for Bane Masks

Online costume retailers and Etsy are doing what they can to keep up with demand. In other Bat-adjacent news, HBO Max is going to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut of 'Justice League'. https://bit.ly/2WP5C4G

Why Creating a Covid-19 Vaccine Is Taking So Long

Developing a vaccine that’s both effective and safe is grueling, methodical work. And once we have one, we’ll need many, many doses too. https://bit.ly/3e7uquP

How Does a Virus Spread in Cities? It’s a Problem of Scale

Population density didn’t make Covid-19 worse in New York City. If you want to know what went wrong, you have to think a lot smaller. https://bit.ly/2TnkwNo

Covid-19's Toll on Prison Labor Doesn't Just Hurt Inmates

Work stoppages impact the incarcerated workforce as well. The financial losses extend beyond the walls. https://bit.ly/2zVTt4W

Netflix’s 'Have a Good Trip' Celebrates Psychedelics

Director Donick Cary discusses how he brought celebrities' internal experiences with acid, mushrooms, peyote and ayahuasca to vivid life. https://bit.ly/36cikxL

A Lawmaker Wants Fast Trains to Rev Up the US Economy

Representative Seth Moulton of Massachusetts proposes spending $205 billion over 5 years to connect Chicago with Atlanta, Portland with Vancouver. https://bit.ly/3dZ9mq7

The Nigerian Fraudsters Ripping Off the Unemployment System

Security researchers have spotted the “Scattered Canary” group scamming vital benefits programs amid the Covid-19 pandemic. https://bit.ly/2zWb3pt

Garmin Tacx NEO 2T Smart Trainer Review: A Realistic Indoor Bike Ride

This indoor cycling trainer offers a ride that's spookily close to the real thing. https://bit.ly/2X6UkIa

How to Set Up Your Kid’s Virtual Work/Play Space

Children need some room of their own just as much as their parents. Here’s how to help them get into the Zoom zone. https://bit.ly/36aduAO

Today's Cartoon: Netflix Finale

Level up on binge-watching. https://bit.ly/2ThqaAI

Now Chrome Can Block Ads That Leach Power From Your CPU

Google developers have built a feature to help you avoid abusive ads. Here’s how to turn it on now. https://bit.ly/2TeJFtF

A Guide to Tony Soprano's Many Robes

Get the robe. Don't ask questions. https://bit.ly/2z8hXYG

How to Sleep When the World Is Falling Apart

It's not easy to relax in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. But there are some simple tips and techniques that can help you get some shut-eye. https://bit.ly/2WCtOas

The Best Outdoor Furniture and Gear to Campout in Your Backyard (2020)

If you have access to some private outdoor space, even just a fire escape, we can help you make the most of your time at home. https://bit.ly/2LA7po8

Buying Giphy Gives Facebook a New Window Into Its Rivals

The social media giant acquires another rich source of data, this time in the form of the internet’s favorite GIF library. https://bit.ly/2WBHu5x

An Alien War Took Over Grand Theft Auto V. It Could End Tonight

A month-long battle between gangs of green and purple aliens has spilled beyond GTA V's boundaries. https://bit.ly/2Zc5UnU

Vollebak’s Metal Jacket Is Armor Against ... Something

With its copper infused garment, the company is looking to provide disease resistant clothing—but has yet to actually test it. https://bit.ly/2zJk84R

Silicon Valley Rethinks the (Home) Office

Some tech companies are adjusting to the pandemic with new WFH perks and even letting employees ditch their commutes forever. https://bit.ly/3bAy7rh

I Enrolled in a Coronavirus Contact Tracing Academy

Health experts say we need up to 200,000 more people to track down the infected and anyone who crossed their path. I took the training to learn how it works. https://bit.ly/3fRJpun

5 Free Digital Comics to Spend Time With During Lockdown

Looking for some comics to fill your quarantine hours? Lots of publishers are currently offering free issues. We suggest you start with these. https://bit.ly/2Z49ZL2